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Mr. Tom Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

He lost his fortune to gambling...

Hi

Would you say that the following sentences carry the same meaning?


1) He lost his fortune to gambling.

2) He lost his fortune due to gambling.

And if they have the same meaning, what about these? Perhaps it's to do something with "literal" and "figurative" meanings.


1) He lost his heart to her.

2) He lost his heart due to her.

Thanks for your time and effort,

Tom
  

Top answer

I think in both cases I would describe the differences as shifts in emphasis, rather than differences in meaning, though looking for a moment at the second set of sentences, the sentence "he lost his heart due to her", might have different meaning entirely. With regard to the sentences concerning gambling: both have the same overall meaning, but after reading the first, it is almost as if the fortune was handed over to gambling and it is 'gambling' that now owns the fortune. The second sentence is more matter-of-fact.

— Thrupenny

  • I think in both cases I would describe the differences as shifts in emphasis, rather than differences in meaning, though looking for a moment at the second set of sentences, the sentence "he lost his heart due to her", might have different meaning entirely.
  • With regard to the sentences concerning gambling: both have the same overall meaning, but after reading the first, it is almost as if the fortune was handed over to gambling and it is 'gambling' that now owns the fortune.
  • The second sentence is more matter-of-fact.
  • It is as if we say: This man lost his fortune.
  • He lost it because he gambled.
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4 Answers
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I think in both cases I would describe the differences as shifts in emphasis, rather than differences in meaning, though looking for a moment at the second set of sentences, the sentence "he lost his heart due to her", might have different meaning entirely.

With regard to the sentences concerning gambling: both have the same overall meaning, but after reading the first, it is almost as i
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Mr. Tom1) He lost his heart to her.

2) He lost his heart due to her.
#! is a set phrase or idiom. That's why #2 does not make sense
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Saying that number 2 doesn't make sense, is being a bit rigid about the language. Collocations are not set in stone.
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...nor engraved in stone...
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